Trap



April 3o, 1940. F Q BROOKS 2,199,167

TRAP

Filed June 15, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 1 ,2 le 77 O e30 KNI" l o o f 6 32 76 15 11 62 s jj (f I I1 I g 74 2 1'Z4* 565255 49 9 lo 4g 45l i l, f *I5 fg gym/wrm,

Z'' YETOOE/ April 30, 1940. ;F Q BROOKS 2,199,167

' TRAP Filed June l5, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet-2 25 24- IJ l 54 25 22% 26' 64. J l 7o 0 yvals;

April 30, 1940. F. o, BROOKS 2,199,167

TRAP

Filed June l5, 1939 4 Sheetsf-Sheet 5 F. O. BROOKS TRAP April 30, 1940.

Filed June 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED sTATlZsA PATENT oFFice i TRAP'. ,k Frazier 0.V Brooks, Roxboro, N.4 0.',assignor of fifty percent toA Leland G r.-Clayton, Roxboro,`

Application June 1.5, 1939,`seri`a1 No. 279,353-

12 claims. (c1. Lis- 75) This invention relates to traps and more particularly to a trap of the spring, jaw type which is primarily intended for catching ratsV and mice .but may be used for catching other animals.

One object of the invention is to provide a trap of the' spring jaw type having electrically opere ated means for resetting the jaw after killingV an animal, the jaw when reset serving toopen a switch and shut oi the motorwhich resets the` jaw. 1t will thus be seen that `manual resetting of the jaw is unnecessary kand that a number of animals may be caught one after another.

Another object of thev invention is to so construct the trap that when a'tr'eadle is depressed lby an animal steppingthereon, a ,circuit will be closed and electrically operated'means en release of the jaw and sure return thereof to a set position obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provideA means for moving a killed animal away from lthe jaw releasingvtreadle and out of position under the jaw. Therefore, proper'resetting of the trap will be obtained and a killed animal will not be in the way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap having electrically energized members capable of withstanding current of standard house I voltage, thus making it possible to plugthe trap into a convenient outlet socket of a lighting system and having it unnecessary to provide a transformer in order to step the circuit down to a predetermined voltage in order to usel the trap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap of simple construction which is durable and not liable to get out of order. y

The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein: l'

Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing the trap set. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the trap sprung and the striker in lowered position. U Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewjof the trap."` Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe trap. l Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional'view taken longitudinally through the trap. v

Y Fig. 6 isa fragmentaryview an enlarged n scale of the disk and latchmeans for swinging `the striker to raised position.

is another view meansj shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional v1ew taken on the linef8--8 'fof Figi?. y j f n 9 is a transverse section takenalong. the 'li'nej 9-9 ofFigureZ.

` 10 is a sectional view taken along'thelline `I'ltllloi ,F.eurefZ-y I I Fig." 11 shows a magnet which may actuate Athe jawholdinglatch This improved trap` embodies abase I which isl preferably formed of ,strong sheet metal and has a topf wall 2, a yrear wal1-3 and side walls 4, thev vside walls being of triangular outline, as

shown in Fig. 4, so that the top Wall extends at an, upward incline from its front end to its rear end.`

By so` formin'g'the base, a space'or chamber kwill be provided under the top wall to accommodate a portion of. .the mechanism, as shown in Fig. 5, and in additioma mouse, rat or lother animal to 'from the front end thereof. Yokes 5 'and 6 extend transverselyof the base in the space under the top wall and constitute means- Yfor reinforcing the base as well as means for shielding and supporting certain of the operating mechanism. The v`rear yoke 6 is `reinforced by a brace 'I extending vertically intermediate the width of the trap with its ends rmly secured to the yoke and the top vwall 2 of the base. v

Bearing brackets 8 .ior rotatably'supporting a shaft 9 extend upwardly from the base in spaced vrelation to side edges of the ytop wall Land through this shaft are mounted the arms K I0 and Il of a rUshaped striker I2 formed of strong I metal rod.I A large sprocket wheel I3 is carried vbythe shaft Sto turn freelyith'ereon at times, and, `fat one side of this wheel, is a drum I4 while at its otherside is a thick plate' I5v formed with an opening I6 to register with a socket I1 formed in the 'sprocket wheel.' The drum and plate are fixed to the shaft and, inv order to cause the sprocket Wheel kto turn with the shaft duringfset- `ting of ther strikenthere has been provided a latch laformedof -resilient metal and'having one 'l end bent to ,form an arm I9 secured throughthe shaft andlits other-end bent to forma bill 20 slidably engaged.l through the opening -I 6 and projecting therefromior engaging inthe socket II of the sprocket wheel, as 'shown in Figs. 'I and 8.

VWhen the sprocket wheel is turned, the end of thev bill will move along the confrontingv side face of the sprocket until kit engages in the socket. The 'shaft will then turn withthesprocket to swing the striker ,fromy the 'lowered position shown .in

of the-striker setting lbe caught, can very easilyVstep upon the baser Fig. 2, to the raised or set position shown in Fig. l, where it will be engaged by the latch or keeper 2l and continued rotation of the sprocket wheel will cause the bill of the latch I8 to move out of the socket. It will thus be seen that rotation of the sprocket wheel may continue afterthe striker has moved to its set position.

When the latch or keeper is moved to releasing position, the striker is violently swung forwardly and downwardly toward the base so that it will strike an animal a very hard blow and kill the animal. This striking motion is accomplished through the medium of a strong cord or light wire 22 wound about the drum I4 and extending downwardly therefrom through an opening 23 formed in the top wall of the base. A bracket 24 carrying a pulley 25 is secured against the under face of the wall 2 and the pull cord vis engaged with this pulley, as shown in Fig. 5, and then extended rearwardly and* secured tothe front end of a strong coiled spring 26 which extends longitudinally of the base` with its 'rearend anchored to the eye 2t carried by the rear wall. During `movement l,of thestriker the pull cord will be wound upon the drum and the spring stretched, and when the keeper is moved to a releasing position .the spring will rapidlycontract and exert pullupon the cord to turn the drum and thus `sprocket wheel i3, ina direction to lswing the striker upwardly to a set position, there has been provided a sprocketchain 21 trained about the sprocket li3 andi also trained about a small sprocket wheel 28Hcar1ied by a shaft 29 rotatably mounted in bearings r3l). This drive shaft 29 carries a large worm Vgear '3l 'operating in a slot S2 formed in the top wall of the base and the lower portion of the worm Vgear meshes with a worm shaft 33 extending longitudinally of the base and having its front end 'r'ot'atably Vmounted a bearing brackety 34 and its rear end A,connected with theshaft of ian electric motor 35 which is supported between the rear yoke 6 and the top wall of the base. A ily wheel 3d is also carried by the shaft of the motor, so that Alation and a movablev block '40 also of insula- `tion, where they are attached to contacts 4I and The blocks of insulation are carried by'a bracket 43 depending from the top wall V2, the

block 39 being rigidly mounted yand the block 4B pivotally mounted midway of its length, and, in

. order to urge the contacts 4Il and 42 toward each other, there has been provided a spring 44 operating between rear ends of the two blocks to tilt the upper block "4t about the pin 43 and swingthe forward end of this block downwardly until the contact 42 engages the "contact 4I.

MA trigger 45 formed from a strand of stili wire extends verticallyv through an opening 46 formed in the top wall of the base and lhas its lower por- ,V tion bent to form anarm ll'lpivote'd at its front Lend to the rear end of the block 4o. The upper end of the trigger iscurvedlforwardly, as shown at 48, to provide a guide for engagement by the bridge of the striker when the striker is moved into position for engagement by the keeper 2i.` As the striker moves into engagement with the keeper, it slides along the trigger and rocks the trigger forwardly so that the arm 4l' is swung downwardly and the block 4S) rocked the pin 43 to raise the forward end of the block and move the contact d2 out of engagement with the contact 4l. This will break the circuit through the motor 35, but momentum created by the flywheel will cause the motor and the worm shaft 1o Vto continue rotation for a short time and the finger 2li of the latch I8 will be dislodged from the socket I'I of the sprocket wheel i3. Thereiore, when the striker is released and swung forwardly and downwardly to strike and kill a rat 15 or other animal and the circuit is again closed to start the motor, the striker will remain in its forward position in holding engagement' with the animal until the sprocket wheel has turned to a Hposition in which the latch mayagain engage 2O ih its socket and the striker will bev swung upwardly and rearwardly to set position.

As the animal will be heldj'by thel strikeror jaw for a short time after beingsstruck', quick: killing of the animal will be assured. A strip 45t extend- 25 ing laterally from one side of the standard 5i? carrying tliekeeper ZI serves as 'a guide for the "trigger 45 and directs it in a straight path during its movement.

Thestandard` 5d for mounting the keeper is Qi() formed from a folded strip 'of metal to provide spaced leaves or wallsb'etween which the keeper is pivoted in a vertical positi'on'and in vspaced relation to its pivotedlower end the keeper carries n g an arm 5I which' projectsfforwardly from the 35 standard. A lever 52, which extends horizontally, is pivotally mounted -between upper portions of lthe leaves of thestandard and 'has an enlarged rear end portion :for engaging the front edge of the keeper. A spring 53 disposed vertically bei210 tweenthe arm5l and the lever 52, exerts pressure to yieldably hold'the lever and the keeper in normal position shown in` Fig. 4, but permits the keeper to move into latching engagement with the striker, as shown in "Fig. 5, andalso `perrnitsi'45 the lever to be swung downwardly 'so that its rear'end will exert camaction on the keeper and swing the keeper rearwardly into position to release the striker. A -pull rod 54 extends verticallythrough' an opening'iin'the top of the'io "base and below the' top is bent to'form an arm 55 which extends rearwardly and, at itsrear end,

5 is engaged with a crank arme? carried Vby the shaft 58 of a second motor '59. This motor constitutes electrically energized meansfor exert-555 'ingp'ullon the arm 56 to'draw the rod 54 ldownwardly and 'when the rod is drawn downwardly, the lever 52 will beswung downwardly to move the keeper'to a releasing position. A solenoid or electro-magnet 5&"may be employed in lieufr'f) of the motor 59.

The lead wire' e@ of"this'motor extends to the `contact 4I and the power wire 6I extends to a contact 62 carried by a block of insulation S3.

`This block of insulation is pivotally carried byf`65 4brackets 64 depending from the top of the base and is locatedfunder a block of insulation E5 carcircuit is closedthe motorwill be energized and vthe arm 51 swung "to draw the pull rod down- Wardly and movethelkeeperto releasing posif 1l extends forwardly from the block 63 across the strip 68 and is bent upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, with its front end secured to the under face of a treadle 12 disposed under an opening 13 formed in the top Wall of the base. This opening is located midway the width of the base in spaced relation to the front end thereof and,

in order to attract an animal and cause it to stepr upon the treadle, there has been provided a bait holder 14 carried by the top wall and overhanging the rear portion of the opening 13 midway the width thereof. As the block of insulation 63 is delicately balanced, only slight pressure upon the treadle is required to close the switch, and when this occurs, the motor 59 will bein-v stantly energized and the keeper moved into position to release the striker and permit the strong spring 26 to swing the striker forwardly and downwardly to deliver a'hard blow and kill the animal that has stepped upon the treadle. The quick action which takes place prevents the animal from having time to jumpout of the way of the descending striker and since the striker will remain in the thrown position for a short time after striking the animal, it will act as a choker or squeeze jaw during the time itis in the thrown position of Fig. 2.

After an animal has been killed, the striker automatically returns to set position, and during this movement of the striker it is desired to have the dead animal shifted out of the way and thus prevent it from interfering with the killing of another animal. In order to accomplish this, there has been provided a sweep 15 carried by the arm 16 of a rocker shaft 11 which vis journaled through the top wall of the base and, at itsv lower end, is bent to form an arm or lever 18 terminating in a diagonally extending portion 19. The arm 18 is engaged by a spring 8l] to ynormally hold the sweep in the position shown in Figs. l and 2, in which position it extends transversely of the base back of the opening 13. Since the diagonally extending portion 19 of the arm 18 extends across the opening S2 formed in the top wall under the arm II of the striker, the portion 83 of this arm which projects from the shaft 9 will engage the Vextension 19 and exert a cam action to swing the arm 13 and turn the rocker shaft to impart forward swinging movement to the arm 16 and thesweep 15 carried thereby as the: striker moves upwardly. During this forward movement the sweep will push the dead animal 'out of the way and when the portion 83 of the striker moves out of engagement with the extension 19, the spring 8l) will return the sweep to its normal position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a trap, a body, a'striker, a spring for urging the striker to striking position, a latch for releasably holding said striker in set position, electrically energized means for moving said latch to al releasing position, a circuit for said electrically energized means including a switch having animal actuated means for closing the switch, electrically energized means for restoring the striker to set position Lhaving a circuit including a switch normally open and adapted to be closed when the striker is in set position, and means actuated during movement 'of the striker to set position for `displacing an animal killed by said striker.

2.'In a trap, a body, a striker, a latch for releasablyholding said striker inset position, animal actuated means for moving said latch to a releasing position, means for automatically re-y storing said striker to set position, and animal removing means separate from said striker and being yieldably held in a normal position and adapted to be actuated by said striker for displacing an animal during movement of the striker to set position.

3. fIn a. trap, a body, a striker, a latch for releasably holding said striker-in set position, electrically energized means for moving said v latch to a releasing position including a normally open circuit closer and animalr actuated means for closing the same, electrically energized means for restoring the striker to set position including a normally closed switch opened when the striker is engaged with said latch, a sweep carried byfsaid body and actuated by said striker for displacing a killed animal during movement of the striker to set f position, and means for restoring said sweep to its normal position after displacing the animal and release from the striker.

4.11m a trap, a base, a striker mounted for swinging movement to a raisedr position, a latch for releasably holding said striker in raised position, electrically actuatedmeans for moving said latch to a releasing position including a normally open switch anda trigger having a treadle disposed in position for actuation by an animal, means for swinging said striker downwardly toward the base and the treadle when said latch is moved to releasing position, electrically operated means for returning the striker to raised position including a normally closed switch and a trigger for opening the same disposed in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch as the striker is engaged Vwith said latch, and animal removing means mounted for movement across the treadle and adjacent portions of the base and adapted to be actuated during upward movement of the striker.

5. In a trap, a base, a shaft rotatably mounted over the base, a striker carried by said shaft for swinging movement during rotation of theshaft, spring actuated means for rotating said shaft in a direction to swing the striker downwardly. in a killing stroke, a keeper for engaging said striker and releasably securing the striker in a raised and set position, electricallyy operated means for moving the keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch and a trigger vtherefor carrying a treadle disposed in position for an animal to step thereon and close the switch to kcause movement of the keeper to release the striker,

and electrically operated means for turning said shaft in a direction to swing the striker to a set position including a normallyA closed switch having a trigger disposed in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch and stop operation of the resetting means as' the striker moves into engagement with the keeper.

6. In a trap, a base, a shaft rotatably mounted over the, base, a striker carried by said shaft for lswinging movement during rotation of the shaft,

moving the keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch and a trigger therefor carrying a treadle disposed in position for an animal to step thereon and close the switch to cause movement of the keeper to release the striker, electrically operated means for turning .the shaft in a direction to swing the striker upwardly to a set position in engagement with said keeper, a lost motion connection between the shaft and the resetting means for permitting the striker to temporarily remain in striking position for holding a struck animal and then move upwardly to set position, the resetting means including a normally closed switch having a trigger disposed in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch as the striker moves into engagement with said keeper.

'7. In a trap a base, a shaft rotatably mounted over the base, a striker carried by said shaft for swinging movement during rotation of the shaft, spring actuated means for rotating said shaft in a direction to swing the striker downwardly in a killing stroke, a keeper for engaging said striker and releasably securing the striker in raised and set position, electrically operated means for moving the keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch and a trigger therefor carrying a treadle disposed in position for an animal to step thereon and close the switch to cause movement of the keeper to release the striker, electrically operated means for turning the shaftrin a direction to swing the striker upwardly to a set position in engagement with said keeper, a lost motion connection between the shaft and the resetting means for permitting the striker to temporarily remain in a striking position for holding a struck animal and then move upwardly to set position, the resetting means including a normally closed switch having a trigger disposed in position for engagenient by the striker to open the switch as the striker moves into engagement with said keeper, a sweep for removing a killed animal mounted for swinging movement and having an operating arm, a spring engaging said operating arm for yieldably holding said sweep in its normal position, and means extending from said shaft for engaging the operating arm and imparting swinging movement to said sweep during movement of the striker to a set position.

8. in a trap, a base, a shaft rotatably mounted over the base, a striker carried by said shaft for swinging movement during rotation of the shaft, spring actuated means for rotating said shaft in a direction to swing the striker downwardly in a killing stroke, a keeper for engaging said striker` and releasably securing the striker in a raised and set position, electrically operated means for moving the keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch and a trigger therefor carrying a treadle disposed in position for an animal to step thereon and close the switch to cause movement of the keeper to release the striker, electrically operated means for turning the shaft in a direction to swing the striker upwardly to a set position in engagement with said keeper, a lost motion connection between the shaft and the resetting `means for permitting the striker to temporarily remain in a striking position for holding a struck animal and then move upwardly to set position, the resetting means including a normally closed switch having a trigger disposed in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch as the striker moves into engagement with said keeper, and means for removing a killed animal adapted to be actuated during movement of the striker to a set position.

9. In a trap, a base having a top wall supported in an elevated position and formed with an opening near its front end, bait holding means over said opening, bearings extending upwardly from said base in transverse spaced relation to each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, a striker carried by said shaft and extending radially therefrom, said striker being of a length adapting it to rest upon said top wall in front of the opening therein when swung forwardly in a killing stroke, a drum carried by said shaft, a pull line wound upon said drum, a spring connected with said line for exerting pull thereon to rotate the `drum and shaft and swing the striker forwardly and downwardly in a killing stroke, a keeper for engaging the striker when swung upwardly and rearwardly and releasably holding the striker in a set position, electrically operated means for moving said keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch having a trigger provided with a treadle plate disposed under the opening in the top wall of the base in position to be stepped upon by an animal trying `to reach the bait, and electrically operated means for turning said shaft in a direction to reset the striker including a normally closed switch having a trigger disposed in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch as the striker moves into engagement with said keeper.

10. In a trap, a base having a top wall supported in an elevated position and formed with an opening near its front end, bait holding means over said opening, bearings extending upwardly from said base in transverse spaced relation to each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, a striker carried by said shaft and extending radially therefrom, said striker being of a length adapting it to rest upon said top Wall in front of the opening therein when swung forwardly in a killing stroke, a drum carried by said shaft, a pull line wound upon said drum, a spring connected with said line for exerting pull thereon to rotate the druml and shaft and swing the striker forwardly and downwardly in a killing stroke, a keeper for engaging the striker when swung upwardly and rearwardly and releasably holding the striker in set position, electrically operated means for moving said keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch having a trigger provided with a treadle plate disposed under the opening in the top wall of the base in position to be stepped upon by an animal trying to reach the bait, a sprocket wheel loose on said shaft and formed with a socket, a spring latch carried by said shaft for bearing against a side face of said sprocket wheel and moving into and out of the socket to cause interrupted turning of the shaft with the sprocket, a drive shaft rotatably mounted, a small sprocket wheel carried by the drive shaft, a sprocket chain trained about the sprocket wheels, a worm wheel carried by said drive shaft and projecting downwardly through a slot in the top wall of said base, a power shaft rotatably mounted under the top wall and having a worm thread meshing with the worm wheel, an electric motor having its shaft coupled to said power shaft, and a circuit for said motor including a normally closed switch having a trigger extending upwardly through the top wall into position for engagement by said striker to open the switch .and shut off with an opening near its front-end, a bait holderr over said'opening, bearings rising from said top wall, a shaft rotatably carried by said bearings and spaced rearwardly from the opening, "a

striker having arms carried, by said shaft, a drum j carried by "said shaft, a pull line woundabout said drum and lextending downwardly through` the top wall, a Lspring under the top Wallanchored at o ne end and having itsIk other end secured to saidpull line and adapted to exert pull upon the line to rotate the drum and shaftV in a direction for swinging the striker forwardly' anddownwardly in a killing stroke, electrically operated meansli'or turning said shaitin a ,di-

rection to swing the striker upwardly and rearwardly to` a setposition including an electric motor and circuit wires leading therefrom, a normally closed switch forthe circuit consisting of a mounting depending from the. top wall, blocks of insulationv carried by said mounting, one block beingstationary andthe other pivoted, contacts carried by said blocks, a spring between said blocks urging` thepivoted block in 'a direction to effect engagement of its Contact with the contact of the stationary block, and-a trigger rod pivoted Ato the pivoted block and extending rearwardly therefrom and upwardly through the top wall in position for engagement by the striker to open the switch as the striker moves to a set l position, a keeper for releasably, holding the striker in set position,v and electrically operated means formoving the keeper to a releasing position including a normally open switch having a trigger provided with a treadle plate disposed under the opening in the top plate.

12. In a trap, a base having a top wall formed with an openingnear its 'iront end, a bait holder over said opening, bearings rising from said top Wall, a shaft rotatably carried by said bearings and spaced rearwardly from the opening, a strikf er having arms carried bysaid shaft, a drum carried by said shaft, a pull line wound about said drum and extending downwardly through the top wall, a spring under the top wall anchored at one end and having its other `end secured to said pull line and adapted to exert pull upon the line to rotate the drum and shaft in a direction for swinging the striker forwardly and downwardly ina killing stroke, electrically operated Asans ior turning said shaft ina direction to Swing the striker upwardly and rearwardly tor a set position including an electric motor? and vcircuit wires leading therefrom', a normally closed Iswitch for the circuit having a trigger extend-v ingy upwardly through the top platein position for engagement by the striker to open the switch K as the striker moves to a set position,A a bracket rising from said top plate, a keeper pivoted to said `bracket andhaving a bill at its upper end and a` `forwardly projecting arm adjacent its lower end, a lever pivoted to said bracket and projecting forwardly therefromy over said arm, l

' aspring between the arm and lever for yieldably holding the lever and thekeeper in normal position, said` lever Awhen swung downwardly having its inner end adapted to engage the keeper and' :nove the keeper tof a releasingv position, a pull rod extending verticallyr through the top wall with its upper end pivoted to the front en d of -said lever and lits lower portionl bent to vform 'an armvextending rearwardly under the top wall,

an electrically operated memberunder the top wall ior 'exerting downward pull on the arm of the pull rod to draw the pull rod downwardly and swing the` lever in a direction to move vthe keeper to a reieasing'position, circuit ywires `for the velectrically operated member, and a switchfor thefcircut 'wires consisting of a mounting depending from the top wall, blocks of insulation carried by said mounting, one block being stationary and the other pivoted, contacts carried by said blocks,a balancing rod extending rearwardly from the p-ivoted block and normally holding the pivoted block in position to maintain the 

